Mumbai TV Actor Arrested Under POCSO for Stalking, Harassment and Assault of 16-Year-Old
Mumbai TV Actor Arrested Under POCSO for Stalking, Harassment and Assault of 16-Year-Old
Rohit Chandel, 29, known for roles in Kashibai Bajirao Ballal and Pandya Store, was remanded to police custody after being produced before a special POCSO court
A television actor was arrested by Mumbai Police on Friday after a 16-year-old girl and her family filed a complaint alleging repeated harassment, stalking, and physical assault. The accused, Rohit Chandel, 29, who has appeared in popular television serials, was taken into custody from his Dahisar residence and produced before a special POCSO court, which remanded him to police custody. The case has sparked significant reaction from women’s groups and entertainment industry observers.
What the Complaint States
According to the complaint filed by a relative of the minor, Chandel repeatedly called the girl from his phone number as well as several other numbers, allegedly harassing her over a period of time. Police confirmed that the two were acquainted before the incidents took place.
The complaint further alleges that on the evening of July 5, Chandel went to the area near the girl’s residential building in an eastern suburb of Mumbai, where he chased her, picked an argument, verbally abused her, and struck her with his hands. The girl reportedly suffered both physical and mental distress as a result of the assault.
Charges Filed and Police Action
The Pantnagar Police registered an FIR immediately after receiving the complaint. Chandel now faces charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act alongside Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 78 and 115(2), which pertain to stalking and causing hurt respectively.
After his arrest on Friday, Chandel was produced before a special court designated to hear POCSO cases. The court remanded him to police custody. Officers confirmed that evidence collection is currently underway and a thorough investigation is in progress.
Reaction and Broader Context
The arrest has drawn strong responses from social activists and women’s organisations, who have demanded strict punishment and called for more rigorous enforcement of laws protecting minors. Several groups noted that the case, involving a figure from the entertainment industry, reinforces the need for POCSO to be applied consistently regardless of an accused person’s public profile.
The incident has also prompted renewed discussion around stalking behaviour, the use of multiple phone numbers to evade detection, and the risks faced by minors in situations where harassment by an acquaintance escalates to physical violence.
Police said further probe is underway and additional details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.
